Cap-type head covering



May 16, 1961 GETTINGER CAP-TYPE HEAD COVERING 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 1 INVENTOR L/LL/AN GETTINGER.

ATTORNEY Filed Aug. 12, 1960 FIG. 7

May 16, 1961 GETTINGER CAP-TYPE HEAD COVERING Filed Au'g'. 12, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 6

FIG. 5

FIG. 8

FIG. 9

gal

INVENTOR L/LL/AN GETT/NQR.

ATTORNEY United States Patent i CAP-TYPE HEAD COVERING Lillian Gettinger, Baltimore, Md., assignor to Andr Fantasies, Inc., a corporation of Maryland Filed Aug. 12, 1960, Ser. No. 49,241 3 Claims. (Cl. 2-404 This invention relates to head coverings, and particularly to cap-type head coverings adapted to enclose the hair of a wearer and any devices carried thereon.

Various types of head coverings of the cap-type adapted to enclose the hair of a wearer have heretofore been suggested. Commonly, such coverings, when designed for use as sleep bonnets, take the form of a large mesh net single body panel provided with a banding around the periphery thereof, to which banding drawstrings are attached. This type of head covering not only detracts from the appearance of a wearer, but when ap plied to the head of the wearer presses inwardly on any devices carried within the hair, such as, curlers, clips, or the like, and causes discomfort and/or scalp irritation.

Other forms of cap-type head coverings heretofore suggested are also subject to serious disadvantages, particularly when an attempt is made to use them as a sleep bonne For example, the normal bonnet constmction which provides a hair-encasing body portion formed from a plurality of panels of woven textile materials not only presses against the hair of a wearer, and thus any devices carried thereon, but in addition prevents continuous and free air circulation through the body of the covering so that if the hair is dampened with a wavesetting solution or water or the like, the same does not properly and/ or adequately dry.

Accordingly, a primary object of the present invention is to provide a cap-typehead covering which is adapted to confine, and conform to, the hair contour of a wearer and enclose any devices carried in or on the hair, but

which is attractive in appearance and, when secured in place, does not press against the devices causing discomfort and/ or irritation.

Still a further object of the present invention is to provide such a head covering having a shirred, and generally upstanding, forward wall portion which may be decorated if desired, and which provides for flexibility of the overall head covering whereby a hairdo can be confined without placing undue pressure on any portion thereof.

Yet another, and still further object of the present invention is to provide a head covering conforming with the preceding objects and incorporating a draw-string type securing means which engages the neck of a wearer, but which has draw-strings that can be loosely coupled about the neck of a wearer so as to prevent undue pressures on the neck and any choking resulting therefromflhe coupling preferably being in back.

Still other, further, and more specific objects of the present invention are: (l) to provide a cap-type head covering as prescribed above having a body portion formed of fine-mesh tulle; (2) to provide a head covering conforming with the preceding objects and having an inverted U-shape face-engaging continuous banding to which is attached a wall panel having 'at least a shirred central portion extending around the top curved part of the inverted U-shape banding; (3) to provide a cap-type head covering in accordance with the foregoing objects and having a-hodyportion formed 'oftwo fin'e mesh tulle 2 ,983,925 Patented May 16, 1961 ice panels which are joined together at seams hidden by decorative lace bands extending therealong; and (4) to provide a cap-type head covering in conformity with all of the preceding objects, which head covering can be easily and inexpensively manufactured from existing materials, and with existing equipments.

A head covering constructed in accordance with the present invention comprises generally an inverted U-shape face-engaging continuous banding, a flexible body portion including a crown panel adapted to extend overthe top of the head of the wearer, and draw-string means for gathering the back of the body portion together for ,securing the covering on the head of a wearer, and incorporates the improvement which comprises providing a shirred wall of arcuate contour between the face-engaging banding and the crown panel, the shirred wall being formed of flexible material and extending around at least the curved top portion of the U-shape banding whereby when the covering is disposed and secured on the head of a wearer, the shirred wall and the crown panel extend flexibly over a hairdo and any devices carried thereon, and confine the same without pressing unduly thereagainst.

The invention will be better understood, and objects other than those set forth will become apparent, when consideration is given to the following detailed description of the preferred and illustrative embodiments of the invention shown in the annexed drawings, wherein:

Figure l is a front view showing the preferred form of a head covering provided by the present invention as the same would appear on the head of a wearer;

Figure 2 is a rear view of the head covering shown in Figure l and presenting the same with the drawstrin tied in the back;

Figure 3 is a side view of the head covering shown in Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a plan view of the, crown and wall panelswhich are joined in accordance with the invention to provide the head covering shown in Figures 1-3 Figure 5 is a front view of a modified form of head covering constructed in accordance with the present in-. vention;

Figure 6 is a side view of the head covering shown in Figure 5, Figure 6 including an enlarged fragmental view of the preferred material used for forming the body portion of head coverings constructed in accordance with the present invention; I

Figure 7 is a plan view of a crown panel and a wall panel which are joined together in accordance with the invention to provide the head covering shown in Figures 5 and 6;

Figure 8 is a fragmental detailed view of the bottom edge of a head covering constructed in accordance with the present invention when a neck-engaging banding is initially being attached thereto;

Figure 9 is a fragmental detailed view similar to Figure 8, Figure 9 showing the preferred manner in which the neck-engaging banding is doubled over to ultimately provide the draw-string securing means preferably used on head coverings of the invention;

Figure 10 is a fragmental detailed view similar to Figures 8 and 9 but showing the bottom edge of a head covering constructed in accordance with Figures 1-3, as the same would appear when manufacture is complete; and

Figure 11 is a fragmental detailed view similar to Figure 10, but showing the bottom edge of a head covering constructed in accordance with Figures 5 and 6, as the face-engaging continuous banding 4, a flexible body portion generally designated by the numeral 6, and drawstring means, generally designated by the numeral 8', for gathering the bottom of the body portion together to secure the covering on the head of a wearer. The flexible body portion 6 includes a crown section 8 (Figure 2) and a wall section 16. According to the invention, a shirred wall portion 10 of arcuate contour is provided between the face-engaging banding 4 and the crown section -8. With the preferred construction, this wall portion comprises the central part of wall section 16.

The shirred wall portion 10 extends around at least the top curved portion 12 of the U-shape banding 4 so that when the covering is disposed and secured on the head of a wearer and the wall section 16 and crown section 8 extend over a hairdo, the shirred wall portion 10 is laterally expandable, allowing the crown section and wall section to accommodate any devices carried on the head Without unduly pressing thereagainst. The body portion 6 and sections 8 and 16 forming the same, as shown in the enlarged fragmental detail of Figure 6, are preferably made of fine-mesh tulle, i.e., tulle having openings therein with the mean space between the opening centers being of the order of M4 inch or less. The tulle material used is preferably nylon, or other suitable synthetic, however, it should be understood that the invention can be applied to ordinary net having the mean distance between the opening centers in/of the order of 6 inch or more, and that the invention can also be applied to sheet material such as textiles, or plastics.

By referring to Figures 2 and 4, it will be noted that the crown section 8 of the head covering shown in Figures l-3, comprises a fiat crown panel having a generally semi-circular forward edge 13 and a rear edge 11 joined to the forward edge 13 by opposed side edges 15 and 17. The portion of the panel between the side edges forms a tail extension 9. The shirred upstanding wall portion 10 of such head covering is part of the wall panel forming wall section 16, and this wall panel comprises an elongate flat member having a generally arcuate lower or rear edge 18, arcuate end edges and 22 sloping inwardly from the lower edge 18, and a top or forward edge 24 sloping from the end edges 20 and 22 toward the lower edge 18 and into a central top generally straight edge portion 24' which extends in spaced relation to the lower edge 18. The rear edge 18 is centrally shirred and throughout its length attached to the faceengaging banding 4. The forward edge 24 of the wall panel, which is generally concave, is attached along the seam 26 (Figure 2) to the crown panel or section 8. The attaching of the wall panel to the crown panel and to the continuous inverted U-shape banding 4 is achieved by means of stitching. The stitching may be effected by machine, and preferably a single row of stitches is provided for attaching the wall panel with the inverted U-shape face-engaging banding, and a double row of stitching is provided along the seam 26.

After the crown panel or section 8 and wall panel or section 16 have been attached to one another, as described above, and after the inverted continuous U-shape face-engaging banding 4 has been attached to the edge 18 of the wall panel as described, then, as shown in Figure 8, the edges 20 and 22 of the wall panel, and the edge 11 of the tail extension 9 of the crown panel, are aligned. A banding strip 30, preferably formed of a woven tetxile such as cotton, is folded over and moved into covering relation with such edges and then stitched to the portions of the panels adjacent such edges as well as to the ends of face-engaging banding 4. After stitching, the end 30a is doubled back, as shown to the right, and the end 30b is doubled back, as shown to the left. Since the banding strip 30, during the stitching, is secured to the ends of the U-shape banding 4, when the end of the banding 30a is doubled back or folded over it extends from one end of the face-engaging banding 4 4 along and adjacent the central portion of the banding strip 30 which is attached to the lower edge of the panels, and over and beyond the other end of the banding 4. The same is true of the end 30b of the banding strip 30 except that it extends in reverse direction.

After the respective ends of the banding 30 have been folded back as shown, and described in connection with Figure 9, then the central portion of the banding 30, i.e., portion between the ends of face-engaging banding 4, and edge portions of the panels attached thereto are folded upwardly and over the doubled-back ends 30a and 30b, the central portion of the banding 30 is stitched again along its length to the adjacent portions of the wall panel and crown panel, as well as to the lower end portions of the U-shape face-engaging banding 4.

The banding 30 being disposed to engage the neck 15 hereinafter referred to as the neck-engaging banding, and this banding, the edge portions 20 and 22 of the wall panel, and the edge portion of the tail 9, when folded over and secured as described, define an elongate openended pocket or passage. Through this passage, the ends 30a and 30b of the banding 30 extend, and these ends serve as draw-strings. Pulling on the ends 30a and 30b, or the draw-strings, results in gathering of the neck-engaging banding, and thereby the lower terminal portion of the head covering, to secure the same on the head of a wearer. Preferably, the draw-strings are tied in back of the neck as shown in Figure 2. This allows for securing the head covering in place without placing the draw-strings around the neck of a wearer, and this is an important feature of the invention.

The modified form of head covering shown in Figure 5 is similar to the preferred embodiment of the invention described with particularity above. By reference to Figure 5 it will be noted that the modified form includes an inverted U-shape continuous face-engaging banding 40, like the banding 4 of Figure 1, which is adapted to extend across the forehead, down along opposite sides of the face forward of the ears, and to the neck of a wearer. The modified head covering is generally designated by numeral 38 and includes a body portion 40' also formed of a crown panel and a wall panel attached to the crown panel. The wall panel 44 is shirred adjacent the top curved portion of the U-shape banding 40 and attached thereto, and the wall panel as well as the crown panel define a cavity 46 extending rearwardly of the U-shape banding 40 and over and around the head of a wearer. The cavity terminates at a lower edge adjacent the neck of the wearer, and along this edge there is provided a neck-engaging banding extending between the lower ends of the U-shape banding 4. Draw-strings 48 and 50, like draw-strings 30a and 30b, are coupled with one end of the U-shape banding 40 and extend adjacent the neck-engaging banding and beyond opposite ends of the terminal portion 90 so that pulling on the draw-strings causes gathering of the neck-engaging banding and thereby the terminal portion to secure the covering on the head of a wearer with the body panels confining a hairdo and any devices carried thereby without pressing tightly thereagainst.

The panels which are used to form the head covering shown in Figures 5 and 6 are presented in Figure 7. The crown panel 42 comprises a front section 50' with a substantially semi-circular forward edge 52 having a given diameter, a rear section 54 with a generally rectangular outline, and of a length greater than the diameter of the front section, and an elongate central section 56 integral with the front and rear sections and having end edges 58 and 60 concavely curving from the edge 52 of the front section into the side edges 53 and 55 of the rear section. In this instance, edges 53, 60 and 55, 58 form opposed side edges of the crown panel joining the forward semi-circular edge 52 with the rear edge 57 of the crown panel and thus forming a tail extension comprising intermediate and rear sections 54and 56.

The wall panel 44 of the modified embodiment cornprises an elongate member having a back edge 62 of a length at least substantially equal to the total length of the outside edges 52, 58 and 60 of the front and central sections of the crown panel. The panel 44 has a front edge 64 shorter than the back edge 62, and end edges 66 and 68 curving convexly from the back edge 62 to the front edge 64. In this embodiment, as in the embodiment of Figures 1-4, the rear edge of the wall panel is longer than the forward semi-circular edge of the crown panel.

In accordance with the invention, .the wall panel and the crown panel shown in Figure 7 are secured together by attaching the rear or back edge 62 of the wall panel to the outside edges 52, 58 and 60 of the front and central portions of the crown panel to form a seam 70 along which preferably runs a double row of stitches. The front or forward edge 64- of the wall panel 44 is shirred along and attached to the folded-over banding strip which forms the U-shape face-engaging banding 40. The side edges 53 and 55 of the rear section 54 of the crown panel 50 are also attached to the U-shape face-engaging banding. After the panels have been so assembled, then a banding strip such as that designated by numeral 30 is secured along the bottom edge of the covering, which with the embodiment of Figures 5 and 6, is formed by the outside edge 57 of the rear section 54 of the crown panel 50.

After the banding strip 30 is secured on the edge 57 or bottom edge of the head covering of the Figure 5 and 6 embodiments, then the ends. 30a and 30b are doubled back as described above in connection with Figures 8-10 and the banding 30, and adjacent portion of the crown panel 50 in this instance, are folded over above the doubled-back ends 30a and 30b and stitched just as with the preferred embodiment of Figures 1-3. The lower or terminal edge portion 90" of the head covering of Figures 5 and 6 thus appears, when fully assembled, as shown in Figure 11.

With the construction of Figures 1-3, as well as with the construction of Figures 5 and 6, there is provided a shirred, upstanding wall portion in the head covering, which wall portion islaterally expandable, allowing for flexibility of the overall body of the head covering, whereby when the same is secured on the head of a wearer it does not unduly press in against any devices, such as, curlers, clips, hairpins, or the like, and cause discomfort and/or scalp irritation.

With both constructions, a lace strip, such as that designated by numeral 100 in Figure 6, is preferably secured, as by stitching, along the seams between the wall panels and the crown panels to cover the seams and enhance the appearance of the head covering.

Notwithstanding the fact that the dimensions of the panels, and bandings used to form a head covering provided by the invention may be varied, the preferred embodiments of the invention incorporate a shirred upstanding wall portion having a width of between 1.5 and 4.5 inches adjacent the coupling of such wall portion with the central curved top portion of the U-shape face-engaging banding.

After reading the foregoing description, it should be apparent that the objects set forth at the outset of this specification have been successfully achieved. Various modifications may occur to those of ordinary skill in the art, after reading the foregoing description. Accordingly, what is claimed is:

1. A head covering of the bonnet type comprising in combination a body portion formed of a crown section and a separate wall section, said crown section being formed from a generally flat crown panel having an at least generally semi-circular forward edge and a rear edge joined to said forward edge by opposed side edge portions to form a tail extension extending rearwardly of said forward edge, said wall section being formed from a generally flat elongate wall panel having forward and rear edges, the rear edge of the wall panel being of a length greater than the length of the forward edge of said crown panel, and being joined to the forward edge of said crown panel and opposed side edge portions thereof, the said panels when joined forming a bonnet cavity presenting a generally U-shape face/engaging edge and a neck-engaging edge portion, an inverted U-shape banding secured to said face-engaging edge of said bonnet cavity with said face-engaging edge at least centrally Shirred adjacent said banding, a neck-engaging banding extending between the ends of said U-shape banding and across said neck-engaging edge portion of said bonnet cavity, said neck-engaging banding and said neck-engaging edge portion being joined and folded over and secured to adjacent portions of at least one of said panels to define an elongate open-ended passage, a pair of drawstrings, each of said drawstrings having one end coupled with one of said bandings adjacent one end of said neckengaging banding and extending through said passage and beyond the opposite end thereof whereby pulling on the other ends of said drawstrings causes gathering of said neck-engaging banding and said folded-over neck-engaging edge portion to secure said covering on the head of a wearer.

2. A head covering of the bonnet type comprising the combination defined in claim 1 wherein said opposed side edge portions form a circular continuation of said forward edge immediately contiguous with said forward edge and then taper concavely and convergently from said continuation toward said rear edge forming said tail extension as a narrowing flap; wherein the forward edge of said wall panel is convexly arcuate and the rear edge of said wall panel is generally concave, said rear edge of said wall panel having a length at least substantially equal to the length of said forward edge and opposed side edges of said crown panel, and being joined thereto throughout said length, said forward edge of said wall panel being joined to said face-engaging banding throughout its length, said wall panel having opposed end edges extending between said forward and rear edges thereof, said end edgm forming with said tail extension the said neckengaging edge portion.

3. A head covering of the bonnet type comprising the combination defined in claim 1 wherein each of said opposed side edge portions of said crown panel comprises a pair of at least substantially straight edges, one of said side edges joining contiguously said forward edge, the

other side edge joining contiguously said rear edge, said side edges being joined by a concave intermediate side edge; the said other side edges of each of said opposed side edge portions forming with said crown panel rear edge a generally rectangular tail extension having a length greater than the diameter of said semi-circular forward edge; and wherein the rear edge of said wall panel is at least substantially straight and of a length at least substantially equal to the length of said semi-circular forward edge of said crown panel and each of said one side edges, said rear edge of said wall panel being joined throughout its length to said forward edge of said crown panel and each of said one side edges, the said forward edge of said wall panel and each of said other side edges of said crown panel being joined to said face-engaging banding.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 621,050 Fain Mar. 14, 1899 1,234,735 Davidson July 31, 1917 1,747,918 Weingart Feb. 18, 1930 1,795,599 Grumbach Mar. 10, 1931 2,007,353 Tarantous July 9, 1935 2,500,351 Farber et a1. Mar. 14, 1950 

